Bench Depth/Shooters: Derrick Williams, Lance Thomas, Jamal Crawford, Mario Chalmers, Gerald Green, Mirza Teletovic, Jared Dudley
The Knicks acquired PG Justin Holiday as part of the Derrick Rose deal. His role going forward is unknown, so New York needs to add a backup point guard to the rotation.
PG Mario Chalmers, Memphis Grizzlies
https://vine.co/v/iJWzTEjgT63
- 30 years old
- 6-foot-2, 190 pounds
- Averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals in 2015-16
- Waived by Memphis after torn Achilles
The Knicks could re-sign Langston Galloway, who is a restricted free agent this summer. Jackson could also make a run at Mario Chalmers, a quality back-up player with championship pedigree.
Chalmers won two championships alongside LeBron James in Miami, and put his full offensive attack on display before his Achilles injury.
He could provide solid backup for Rose, but having two point guards with major leg injuries is a risk.
Mario Chalmers says his main focus is to get back on the court & show teams he will be ready for training camp
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) June 10, 2016
Other free agent back-up point guards include Randy Foye, D.J. Augustin, Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson.
F Derrick Williams, New York Knicks
https://vine.co/v/ipj966rWLzB
- 25 years old
- 6-foot-8, 240 pounds
- Averaged 9.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 2015-16
Both Derrick Williams and the Knicks front office are reportedly interested in a reunion. Williams opted out ($4.9 million) to haul in a bigger contract. A source told ESNY he worked out with Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, Carmelo Anthony and other teammates last week.
The versatile combo forward could garner a contract worth double his Knicks salary.
New York could exceed its cap using the Non-Bird Exception to sign Williams to a four-year deal worth a tick over $25 million. His contract would start at $5.88 million with 4.5 percent annual raises (an average of $6.3 million per year).
That contract, though, would be underpaying, and to sig
Gerald Green Wing, Miami Heat
https://vine.co/v/iiUEUIWrlL7
- 31 years old on January 26
- 6-foot-7, 205 pounds
- Averaged 8.9 points in 2015-16
- Career .361 three-point shooter
Gerald Green is coming off of a down year in Miami, but he thrived under Hornacek in Phoenix back in 2013-14. Green averaged 15.8 points on a .400 three-point shooting clip.
He knows the offense Hornacek will impolement and would complement the team as an athletic scorer off the bench.
Jamal Crawford Guard, Los Angeles Clippers
https://vine.co/v/O0gb7PWj7FT
- 36 years old
- 6-foot-5, 195 pounds
- Averaged 14.2 points and 2.3 assists in 2015-16
- Three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2009-10, 2013-14, 2015-16)
New York could also use added firepower off the bench. Jamal Crawford has traveled the NBA as a hired gun for multiple franchises.
Crawford, a volume scorer, is a free agent this summer and played for the Knicks for more than four seasons.
Drose to NY?! Hmmm. Gonna be an interesting summer!
— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 22, 2016
Doc Rivers on team's free agents: "They all want to come back, but they’ve all played well and so they’ve all made it more difficult."
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) May 2, 2016
Jeff Hornacek has often times mentioned shooters when addressing the New York’s needs this summer. Mirza Teletovic is a stretch four Hornacek is familiar with, but the shooter begun to thrive shortly after Phoenix changed head coaches.
Another available combo forward to stretch the defense is Jared Dudley, who spent a good chunk of his minutes in Washington at the power forward.
Lance Thomas played himself into a massive pay raise as a three-and-D wing for the Knicks last season. It will be near impossible for New York to retain both him and Williams and fill the roster with capable players at each position.
Kristian Winfield covers the New York Knicks for ESNY. You can start the conversation on Twitter @Krisplashed.
Derrick Rose to New York Knicks: Everything You Need to Know https://t.co/ht9jazVF2V
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) June 22, 2016
